Editorial Note
On July 4, the Communist side responded to General Ridgway’s message of July 3 (see footnote 2, page 616) in a communication the [Page 623] text of which is here reprinted from the Department of State Bulletin, July 9, 1951, page 44:
“General Ridgway, Commander in Chief of the U.N. Forces. Your reply of July 3 to us has been received. In order to guarantee effectively steps regarding various processes for the first conference of representatives of both sides, we agree to the despatching of (3) liaison officers by each side to hold a preparatory conference in the Kaesong area as you proposed. If you agree to our proposal for setting the date for the conference of liaison officers as July 8, we will notify you of further business preparations for the meeting of liaison officers from both sides.
- “Kim Il Sung, Supreme Commander of Korean Peoples Armed Forces
- “Peng Teh-huai, Commander of the Peoples Volunteer Forces Pyongyang City, July 4, 1951.”
On the following day, July 5, General Ridgway responded by accepting the date of July 8 for an initial meeting and requesting safe conduct for the 3 liaison officers and 2 interpreters who would accompany them to Kaesong. The text of Ridgway’s message is printed ibid .